RAILWAYMEN APPROVE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 429, 10 August 1928, Page 9

RAILWAYMEN APPROVE

REDUCTION IN WAGES FINAL AGREEMENT IN SIGHT British Official Wireless. Reed. noon. RUGBY, Thursday. In connection with the railway wage, a provisional agreement for a 2i per cent, cut all round was accepted yes terday by a majority decision of the delegates to the conference of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. Endorsement of the agreement was strongly recommended, solely on the ground that in view of the -ailway situation and the general state of trade, it would be impossible to get a better settlement. Mr. J. H. Thomas, the railwaymen’s secretary, at Carlisle yesterday predicted that before the end of the week the agreement would be finally accepted by all parties. A delegate conference of the National Union of Railwaymen to-day accepted by an overwhelming majority the provisional agreement whereby the wages are to be reduced. The voting was 77 delegates for and three against.

It will be recalled that It was part of the agreement that the directors of the railway companies should submit also to a 2J per cent, reduction in their fees, and this co-operative effort has undoubtedly had a great effect in procuring the acceptance of the reduction in wages by the men.